I used to live around Broxbourne and there was an interesting story in the local paper back in the 70's.
It told of a German man who joined the Herts and Essex aero club as a student before the war and amazed the instructors with his aptitude. After the war it transpired that he had been a qualified pilot all along and was taking the opportunity to carry out illicit reconnaissance flights.
Unfortunately the story turned out to be total fantasy, but does anyone know how it started?